911 Turbo Cabriolet in Porsche’s New Wind Tunnel

In the process of crafting a better car, with better performance, better fuel consumption, better looks and a better name, there are dozens of details to take into account and adjust minutely. Construction materials, weight, electronic features and engine size all need to be precisely measured, but a car’s aerodynamic abilities can make or break its greatness.

To further refine their aerodynamic testing, Porsche has unveiled a new aero-acoustic wind tunnel with a 26-foot tall fan at the end. But the fan, which can create 7,000 megawatts, or 9,300 hp, of energy, is just the beginning of this new air tunnel.

To better simulate road conditions in the tunnel, a belt runs at speeds up to 300 km/h, or 186 mph, to capture information about air flow underneath the vehicle. The fan is much quieter, meaning a setup that includes hundreds of microphones can now measure for acoustic adjustments, testing how a new door seal, or side mirror, can impact the car’s natural symphony. In short, this new testing system at the Weissach Development Center is more capable of minute adjustments than ever before.

The full details of this new system are available in the latest edition of Porsche’s Christopherus Magazine, an online version of which can be found by clicking here. Below are a few images of the 911 Turbo Cabriolet putting this air stream to the test, as Porsche shared on their Facebook page today.